THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
New Delhi, February 26: In a stern action, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a nationwide recall of an NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook containing references to “corruption in the judiciary” and initiated contempt proceedings against top education officials.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi issued show-cause notices to the Secretary of School Education, Ministry of Education, and the NCERT Director. They have been asked to explain why no action should be taken under the Contempt of Courts Act or other applicable laws.
The Court took suo motu cognisance of the issue and observed that, if found to be deliberate, the publication could amount to criminal contempt for attempting to scandalise the judiciary.
Blanket Ban and Immediate Seizure
The bench imposed a complete ban on further publication, reprinting and digital dissemination of the textbook containing the disputed chapter.
It directed the immediate seizure of all physical copies and the removal of soft copies from circulation. NCERT, in coordination with Union and State Education Departments, has been asked to ensure that all copies—whether in storage, bookshops or educational institutions—are taken out of public access.
The Court made it the personal responsibility of the NCERT Director and school principals where the book has reached to seal and seize all copies and submit compliance reports within two weeks. Principal Secretaries of all states have also been directed to ensure compliance.
“No instruction shall be imparted based on the subject book,” the Court said, warning that any attempt to circulate the content under altered titles or through electronic means would be treated as wilful disobedience.
Details of Authors and Meetings Sought
The bench directed the NCERT Director to furnish the names and credentials of all individuals involved in drafting the chapter. It also ordered the production of the original minutes of meetings in which the chapter was discussed and approved.
Court Questions NCERT’s Stand
The Court noted that the chapter referred to complaints against judges in a manner that suggested no corrective action was taken. It further observed that remarks attributed to former CJI BR Gavai appeared to have been taken out of context, creating an impression that he had acknowledged corruption within the judiciary.
The bench termed the NCERT Director’s communication defending the chapter as “contemptuous and reckless.”
It observed that the content appeared to be a “calculated attempt to undermine the institutional authority and dignity” of the judiciary, particularly in the minds of young and impressionable students.
However, the Court clarified that it does not intend to suppress legitimate criticism or prevent scrutiny of public institutions, including the judiciary.
Heated Courtroom Exchanges
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that NCERT had withdrawn the chapter and expressed regret. However, CJI Surya Kant remarked that the press release contained “not a single word of apology” and pointed out that NCERT had earlier defended the content.
The Solicitor General stated that only 32 copies had reached the market and would be retrieved. He also flagged concerns about another chapter titled “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied,” which allegedly contained inaccurate data on case backlogs.
“We cannot teach our children that justice is denied in the country,” he submitted.
The CJI described the development as a “deep-rooted, well-orchestrated conspiracy” and stressed the need to fix accountability. “Heads must roll. I am not going to close these proceedings,” he said.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal informed the Court that PDF versions of the chapter were being widely circulated on social media. Justice Bagchi suggested that the Centre take immediate steps to ensure takedown from online platforms.
Senior Advocates Vikas Singh and Manan Kumar Mishra also appeared, supporting the Court’s intervention.
How the Controversy Began
The issue surfaced on February 24 after media reports highlighted that a new NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook listed “corruption in judiciary” and case backlogs as major challenges.
Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Dr AM Singhvi mentioned the matter before the CJI-led bench, arguing that the content scandalised the judiciary.
The CJI stated that several judges were disturbed by the development and revealed that suo motu action had already been initiated.
Following the Court’s observations, NCERT withdrew the book and said the chapter would be rewritten in consultation with appropriate authorities before the 2026–27 academic session. It acknowledged that the content was “inappropriate” and described it as an “error of judgment.”
The matter will be taken up again on a later date.